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Pard is the proper term for leopard lycanthropes (wereleopards). Their name was a medieval term for a leopard, and also referred to incredibly fast legendary creatures who were believed to mate with lions to produce leopards. The wereleopards of San Diego belong to the Gelo Nero Clan. Leopard lycanthropy is one of the least infective (and therefore rarer) strains.

Physique

Pard are carriers of the leopard strain of lycanthropy. This can be passed on via a bite or a clawing wound given while the pard is in leopard or hybrid form, or via an exchange of blood. The disease can also be contracted from the vaccine, and this was once far more common than people think, but advances in medicine have begun reducing the likelihood of this occurring. Although no known cases of this exist among the pard (and in general they are not aware of this fact), lycanthropy is passed from mother to child - however, it is rare for a pard mother to carry a baby to term, because changing shape almost always induces a miscarriage. A pard father can pass on Mowgli Syndrome to the child if he was in leopard or hybrid form during intercourse. Once turned, lycanthropes are immune to other strains of lycanthropy (aside from the 30 or so panweres existing in the world, only four of which are in the United States), and to vampirism (with the notable exception of the line of hybrids created by the Mother of All Darkness).

Like all lycanthropes, pard possess strength and speed far beyond anything a human is capable of - they can bench press a car easily, and can move fast enough to seem like a blur to the human eye. Lycanthrope metabolisms are much faster than human metabolisms, which is why pard need to consume more calories, why they heal so quickly, and also why they have a higher body temperature than humans. Cold temperatures and ice baths, sometimes used to bring down fevers in humans, can be fatal to lycanthropes if given to them while they are healing serious injuries - they require high temperatures to heal, and recover best when surrounded by their clan.

Aside from wounds which sever the brain stem, lycanthropes can heal from almost anything. Although they are immune to poisons and diseases, lycanthropes are highly allergic to silver, and most will be burned by any external contact with the metal - some powerful lycanthropes, however, are not harmed unless the silver breaks the skin or is otherwise ingested. Wounds created by silver heal at human speed, if the lycanthrope does not shift before they are healed. As a result, silver is the only metal that can be used for body piercing on a lycanthrope - the holes will close up around other metals. However, doing this causes the lycanthrope constant mild pain as the 'wounds' stay fresh. Wounds made by other lycanthropes or fire will also heal slowly.

A pard's natural form is human. In appearance, they are typically impossible to distinguish from any other human, although their faster metabolisms mean they are always fit. If they spend too much time in leopard form, some characteristics may linger - for instance they may have leopard eyes, unusually long and sharp canine teeth, and perhaps a rough/growly voice. Pard shapeshift into leopards, somewhere around the size of a Great Dane. Some are also capable of taking a bipedal hybrid "leopardman" form. Although the ability is rare, some alpha lycanthropes can shift isolated portions of their body if they choose, rather than their whole body. Lycanthropes return to human form upon their death.

The transformation itself is a violent process - bones snap and reform, skin splits, fur spills out, and a hot, sticky liquid is produced (which manages to get everywhere except the fully transformed pard). The process can take some time, depending on the age and ability of the pard involved. Powerful alpha pard can sometimes shift very smoothly and rapidly, whereas newer or weaker pard often take several minutes for their bodies to break down and reform. Changing form always takes a lot of energy, and changing to leopard form causes a hunger for meat. A shape change will heal all fresh wounds - even scars will fade gradually, if they were attained after the lycanthrope was infected.

If the shift is brought on naturally (by the full moon), typically a pard will spend six to eight hours in leopard form, followed by six to eight hours of comatose sleep. This coma time increases if a pard chooses to shift back early, although alpha weres require only a few hours of comatose sleep, if any at all. Staying in leopard form for a longer period is possible, but spending too long in leopard form hampers the ability to shift human - at first only small features will remain feline, but the longer they stay changed the less of their human instincts they retain, and eventually insanity can result. The risk of this lessens with a pard's power.

All of a lycanthrope's senses are heightened. They can hear a person's pulse just by standing nearby, they need minimal light to see, and they can track by scent (although all of these abilities are improved more if they are in leopard form rather than in human). They can use their sense of smell to determine if a person is agitated or calm, and this helps them determine if someone is lying, although it is not universal.

Metaphysics

The moon is a potent influence on any lycanthrope. During the full moon, all lycanthropes must shift, though with more power and control comes the ability to delay this shift. The closer the moon is to being full, the harder it is for any lycanthrope to resist the shift. Many things can trigger a pard's shift, if they do not have full control: heightened emotional states (including during sex) and the scent of blood are among the most common things to bring the leopard to the surface and strain a pard's control.

Sex - also referred to as "the killing dance" - can be a dangerous situation for a lycanthrope, as it can trigger an unwilling shift. Between two lycanthrope partners, this is considered normal - in fact not shifting during sex is considered holding back (some lycanthropes take it as an insult). However, when a lycanthrope has sex with a human, a shift can be disastrous: at best they will severely injure and infect their partner, at worst they will maul them to death.

The more control a lycanthrope has, the more they are able to choose when to shift and when not to shift - though it is always easier to change into leopard form than resist the urge. A triggered (rather than conscious) change usually results in a lack of control over a pard's beast, and can also create memory loss. For the first six months of forced full moon transformations, a pard will not remember anything, and will be unable to control their actions during the night (their leopard's instincts are in charge). The next six months begin the gradual development of control.

All pard are able to control natural leopards (to an extent - they can at least calm them, though alpha pard can get the leopards to do their bidding), and have what is in some senses an aura but in other senses an additional personality - except not a human personality, but rather that of a leopard. 'The leopard' or 'the beast' is what takes over during a pard's first several full moons, and represents animal instincts rather than human ones. Control over their leopard can be developed with practice - the better a pard's control, the more their leopard becomes simply a facet of their personality, rather than a separate personality whose memories they do not share.

The beast makes a wereleopard's aura hot and aggressive - sensitives of any kind who are around lycanthropes often find it to be an uncomfortable sensation, a type of hot prickling along their skin. Other lycanthropes are even more receptive to the aura, sometimes even feeling it as if it were a tangible leopard, though other times simply feeling it as a dominating strength. More powerful pard can mask and subdue this aura, with concentration, making it more difficult for sensitives to discern that they are a lycanthrope. However, the more powerful the were, and the more of their feline senses and instincts being used, the stronger this aura will be.

Especially powerful and dominant pard are referred to as alphas (sometimes, the line between alpha and dominant is blurred, but only an alpha can truly lead a clan). Whether or not a pard becomes alpha depends largely on their own strength of will and personality. Alphas have better control of their beast than other weres, and they have a resistance to psychic and vampiric abilities. Some alphas can also control the beasts of those around them, either forcing other pard to shift or forcibly repressing the beast. Another rare ability is the sharing of power through their own blood. Even more rare is the ability to heal, usually through physical contact and sexual energy. Two true leaders, alphas powerful enough to lead the clan (a true Nimir-Ra and Nimir-Raj), are powerful enough to pass their beasts through each other during sex (a highly pleasurable experience for both parties which can bring orgasm without any physical stimulation). A strong enough Nimir-Ra/Nimir-Raj, or even a Leopard Lionne, can shield their pard from a vampire's call, but being Nimir-Ra/Nimir-Raj creates a metaphysical bond between leader and clan. This bond works both ways: the Nimir-Ra/Nimir-Raj, Leopard Lionne, or Lion Passant can draw strength from the pard, and sense pard members, but the entire pard can be controlled or fed upon via the Nimir-Ra/Nimir-Raj, Leopard Lionne, or Lion Passant.

Narcissus in Chains, Ch. 20 (Micah speaking)

"You are my Nimir-Ra, and I am your Nimir-Raj… We are a mated pair… It's legend among the leopards that you can find your perfect mate, and from the first moment you have sex you're bound, more than marriage, more than law. We will always crave each other. Our souls will always call to each other. Our beasts will always hunt together."

A true Nimir-Ra and Nimir-Raj are soulmates, destined to be together (which is one reason it is unusual for a pard to have both - many pards simply have one, or have a lesser leader). When a destined pair are together, they are able to interact even more with each other's beasts. Pard refer to this as Shiva and Pavarti, or simply Maithuna.

Incubus Dreams, Ch. 81

I used hands and body to press his mouth back to mine. His beast began to spill up through his body in a line of breath-stealing heat. It rose fast and faster as if it had to catch up with mine. They raced up our bodies, raced through that dark water, raced, and raced, faster and faster until they hit the surface. It wasn't about changing shape, it was about changing bodies. It was about that need to wrap as much of him around as much of me, as tight, and close as I could. It was as if the very essence of our bodies had responded to that desire. Our beasts spilled our of our mouths, and brushed metaphysical furred sides down each other, as we spilled inside each other's bodies. It was closer than sex. Closer than anything I'd ever felt. It was as if for a blinding, shattering moment, we were in each other's bodies. Not in our minds, not merely our thoughts, or feelings, not even memories, but for a breath or two, a part of me slipped inside him, and a part of him slipped inside me. The weren't parts that could think and feel like a human being. There was none of that, wow, so this is how it feels to be Micah. There was only a sense of burrowing down, down deep inside him, of finding that metaphysical hiding place where the beast lay and having my beast curl up, for a moment, inside his most secret space, while his beast did the same in me.

Culture

As with most lycanthropes, pard form territorial clans (which are also called a pard) based around urban centers. The rules vary based on territory (and who's in charge at any given time), but most clans permit visitors to their territory without too much ritual, as long as the visitors don't have dealings with the clan. If the visitor plans to have dealings with the clan, they must first present themselves to the Nimir-Ra/Nimir-Raj, Leopard Lionne, or Lion Passant, along with a gift. Becoming a resident in the pard's territory requires the permission of the clan leader - anything else is a challenge to the leader's authority, which establishes the newcomer as rogue (effectively, outlaw to the clan). Some leaders also require a tithe from their pard members.

The pard is organized in a strict hierarchy of dominance. Depending on the clan, there may be a Lion Passant, a Leopard Lionne, or a Nimir-Ra/Nimir-Raj heading the clan - if the clan is especially lucky, they may have both a Nimir-Ra and Nimir-Raj at the top. If a Nimir-Ra/Nimir-Raj is present, there will be an Insaf (second) and Tarna (third) behind them. Among unranked leopards, strength and power decide position: alpha leopards are above more submissive leopards. When a more dominant leopard gives a more submissive leopard an order, the submissive is expected to follow it - within reason. Dominance cannot be used to force a submissive to engage in illegal activity (although all rules are invalidated if the clan leader gives an order). Non-pard can be considered dominant to pard members, but cannot be considered alpha.

Dominance affects greetings between lycanthropes. A formal greeting between equal lycanthropes, or in a situation where dominance doesn't need to be established, is performed when one lycanthrope rubs cheeks with another, and both bury their noses in each other's hair. A submissive, when in public, will greet a dominant with a soft kiss, gently cupping their face in their hands. When not in public, the submissive will run their tongue along the dominant's lower lip. When a powerful alpha pard meets a powerful alpha of another species, their beasts will sometimes fight for dominance, if there is tension between them. The sensation is violent - as if the other lycanthrope's claws are ripping at the pard's insides - but no physical damage is done. Physical contact makes the sensation more powerful. Either one beast wins, or the fight ends in a standstill.

Narcissus in Chains, Ch. 35 (Merle speaking)

"When two such different beasts meet, and they are both strong dominants - such as a true Nimir-Ra, and a true Ulfric - the two animals must fight and test each other… it is a type of taming of one beast by the other."

When disputes occur, they are decided by dominance battles or challenges - which can range from a battle of wills to hand to hand combat, and end when one of the combatants backs down and acknowledges the other as dominant to them. Challenges are much like duels, in that it is left between the two combatants. Using weapons other than teeth and claws (or knives) invalidates the challenge. Submissive weres can seek the protection of a more powerful were - if the dominant were grants this protection, they must accept all challenges on behalf of the submissive were they protect. To request protection, the submissive moves in closer to the dominant, without touching them. If the dominant offers their protection, they reach out and touch the submissive. This process means that the protectee automatically acknowledges the protector as dominant to them - and the pard must recognize this relationship as well. Challenges for rank are even more formal - these can be duels to the death, in which case the winner inherits the property of the loser. Such challenges must be issued in a formal pard gathering. Generally, challenges for a rank less than leader are not fought to the death, but it can happen.

When one pard wishes to give their word in a formal manner to another, they present their throat to them. Symbolically, they are trusting the other leopard not to take their life. Traditionally, the response is to lightly kiss or bite the pulse of the offered throat. The harder the bite, the less the second leopard trusts the word being given, and/or the more dominant they see themselves to the first leopard. A hard bite can be an insult to an alpha leopard, however, it can also be the opposite:

Narcissus in Chains, Ch. 11 (Micah speaking)

"A wound on the neck from a Nimir-Ra is a sign that the sex was good."

Lycanthropes are very casual about things like nudity and personal space. They tend to be comfortable lounging on or beside each other, at least as long as they are within their own strain - a pard is far more comfortable around another pard than they would be around any other lycanthrope. The touch of their pard is a metaphysical as well as emotional reassurance.

Blue Moon, Ch. 37 (Marianne speaking)

"A healthy pack or pard is built up of a thousand gentle touches. A million small comforts. It's like building a relationship with a boyfriend. Every touch builds and strengthens it… It is like building your relationship with a newborn baby. Every touch, every time you feed him when he's hungry, change him when he's wet, comfort him when he's frightened—the everyday intimacies forge a bond between you. True parenthood is built over years of interdependency. The bond between the pack is built much the same way."

Most clans will assign a sponsor to a newly turned were. This sponsor helps teach the new lycanthrope how to keep control, how to keep the secret, and how to cope with the change. In addition, the sponsor is often responsible for teaching the new lycanthrope about the different risks inherent in sex.

Calling a lycanthrope "noseblind", or insinuating that their sense of smell/taste is useless, is a grave insult - it essentially translates to saying that they are in denial.

Interaction with Human Society

Although lycanthropy is a recognized disease, and discrimination based upon it is illegal, prejudicial practices are common. Six states in the U.S. have "varmint laws", which make it legal to kill a lycanthrope in animal form on sight (and a bounty is offered for their corpse). Lycanthropy is considered a contagious disease, and as such disqualifies someone from Federal Marshal status, as well as the Armed Forces. Lycanthropes working in medicine or as teachers lose their jobs almost immediately upon being outed, and the same generally applies for government jobs or emergency services.

It is against the law to deliberately infect someone with lycanthropy. Many hospitals are uncomfortable treating lycanthropes, but they do offer vaccines for the disease. Known lycanthropes are encouraged to enter 'safe houses', which are government-run facilities advertised as clinics where a lycanthrope can learn control. While admission is voluntary for anyone over the age of 18 (minors may be forcibly admitted), and lycanthropes are supposed to be welcome to return to society after they have achieved control, once a lycanthrope checks in they are never seen again. Lycanthropes, naturally, view these places as worse than prisons, and the ACLU is fighting their existence in the Supreme Court.

Due partially to this widespread discrimination, almost all lycanthropes live a life of secrecy, even from their own families. Generally, the only lycanthropes who don't keep their status a secret are those who do not socialize with humans - and particularly those in the service of vampires. Lycanthropes who use their condition to perform (whether in a specialty stage act or on screen) are also exceptions to this practice. However, even outed lycanthropes are generally reluctant to tell humans any details about lycanthrope culture.

Terminology

Ranks

Rank

Description

Term Origin

Notes

Nimir-Ra

Leopard Queen

Nimir is a derivative of the Hindi/Arabic/Hebrew word Namir, meaning 'panther' or 'tiger'. Ra is possibly a feminine derivative of Raj, Hindi for 'rule' or 'reign'. In many Indian languages, Raj literally means 'prince' or 'royalty'.

A rare female true leader of the pard.

Nimir-Raj

Leopard King

Nimir is a derivative of the Hindi/Arabic/Hebrew word Namir, meaning 'panther' or 'tiger'. Raj is the Hindi word for 'rule' or 'reign', derived from the Sanskrit Raja. In many Indian languages, Raj literally means 'prince' or 'royalty'.

A rare male true leader of the pard.

Léoparde Lionné

Active Leader

Under standard heraldry terms, the term 'léoparde lionné' refers to a leopard in the typical pose of a heraldic lion, i.e. rampant.

A 'rampant lion'. A leader of the pard who is not a king or queen, but both leads and protects. A protector, and sometimes an avenger. Under a leader like this, the leopards can feel more confident.

Lion Passant

Passive Leader

Under standard heraldry terms, 'passant' means a walking animal (three legs on the ground, one leg up), while 'dormant' means a sleeping animal.

A 'sleeping lion'. A leader of the pard who is not a king or queen, but only leads and does not protect. Under a leader like this, the leopards are anyone's meat, and often become scared and distrusting.

Khabar

Guardian

From the feminine derivative of the Hindi word for 'guardian'.

A female guardian to the Nimirs.

Himayati

Guardian

From the masculine derivative of the Hindi word for 'guardian'.

A male guardian to the Nimirs.

Insaf

Second

From the Hindi word for 'justice' or 'equity'.

The Nimir-Ra/Nimir-Raj's second in command, and second in line for the throne.

Tarna

Third

From the Hindi word for 'punishment' or 'admonition'.

The Nimir-Ra/Nimir-Raj's third in command, and third in line for the throne.

Uttara

Queen's Advisor

From the phonetic Hindi word for 'left'.

Advisor to the Nimir-Ra.

Upayukta

King's Advisor

From the phonetic Hindi word for 'right'.

Advisor to the Nimir-Raj.

Other Terms

Maithuna: Sanskrit for 'union or coupling'. A term for the metaphysical reaction between a true Nimir-Ra and Nimir-Raj.

Shiva and Pavarti: Sanskrit for 'union or coupling'. A term for the metaphysical reaction between a true Nimir-Ra and Nimir-Raj.